Reading List

A curated Reading List to support and extend learning from the Slips, Trips, Falls, Ladders and Steps in Pharmacy Practice course.

These resources are for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, dispensers, medicines counter staff, delivery staff, managers, locums and other pharmacy team members. They give practical workplace guidance on preventing slips and trips, safer low-level access, and the actions staff and employers can take to reduce avoidable injuries.

1. Core HSE Guidance

• HSE - Preventing slips and trips at work
  A practical HSE guide that explains common causes of slips and trips and simple control measures workplaces can introduce. Useful as a direct starting point for pharmacy teams.
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg225.htm

• HSE - Slips and trips
  The HSE topic hub that brings together causes, prevention, roles, case studies and tools. Consult this page to explore wider guidance beyond the course.
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/index.htm

2. Worker and Employer Roles

• HSE - Employee
  Guidance for workers on preventing slips and trips, including reporting hazards and near misses, keeping floors clear and dealing with spillages promptly.
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/workers.htm

• HSE - Employer
  Information for managers and governance leads on legal duties, risk assessment, cleaning, contamination control, lighting and promoting a "see it, sort it" workplace culture.
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/employers.htm

3. Cleaning and Safe Low-Level Access

• HSE - Cleaning
  Practical points on scheduling cleaning, controlling access, drying floors and using safe cleaning methods. The page notes that cleaning reduces slip risk but can also create temporary hazards such as wet floors and trailing cables.
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/cleaning.htm

• HSE - Safe use of ladders and stepladders
  Main HSE guidance on when ladders and stepladders are appropriate, how to inspect them and how to use them more safely for low-risk, short-duration tasks.
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/work-at-height/ladders/index.htm

4. Northern Ireland Guidance

• HSENI - Slips and trips
  A Northern Ireland overview explaining why slips and trips remain a frequent cause of workplace injury and outlining practical prevention measures for everyone in the workplace.
  https://www.hseni.gov.uk/topics/slips-and-trips

• HSENI - Portable ladders and stepladders
  A Northern Ireland leaflet on portable ladder and stepladder safety to support the low-level access content of this course for employers and staff in NI settings.
  https://www.hseni.gov.uk/publications/portable-ladders-and-stepladders

Use these readings to build practical knowledge on preventing slips and trips, safer cleaning and low-level access, reporting hazards and near misses, and the workplace systems that help pharmacy teams reduce everyday physical risks.